To George Rogers Clark Annapolis, Dec. 4, 1783

DEAR SIR

-- I received here about a week ago your obliging
letter of Oct. 12. 1783. with the shells and seeds for which I return
you many thanks. You are also so kind as to keep alive the hope of
getting for me as many of the different species of bones, teeth and
tusks of the Mammoth as can now be found. This will be most
acceptable. Pittsburg and Philadelphia or Winchester will be the
surest channel of conveyance. I find they have subscribed a very
large sum of money in England for exploring the country from the
Missisipi to California. They pretend it is only to promote knolege.
I am afraid they have thoughts of colonising into that quarter. Some
of us have been talking here in a feeble way of making the attempt to
search that country. But I doubt whether we have enough of that kind
of spirit to raise the money. How would you like to lead such a
party? Tho I am afraid our prospect is not worth asking the
question. The definitive treaty of peace is at length arrived. It
is not altered from the preliminaries. The cession of the territory
West of Ohio to the United states has been at length accepted by
Congress with some small alterations of the conditions. We are in
daily expectation of receiving it with the final approbation of
Virginia. Congress have been lately agitated by questions where they
should fix their residence. They first resolved on Trentown. The
Southern states however contrived to get a vote that they would give
half their time to Georgetown at the Falls of Patowmac. Still we
consider the matter as undecided between the Delaware and Patowmac.
We urge the latter as the only point of union which can cement us to
our Western friends when they shall be formed into separate states.
I shall always be happy to hear from you and am with very particular
esteem Dr. Sir